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Insomnia
Let NX Pharmacies send your insomnia meds straight to your door
Renew your prescription for insomnia medications such as temazepam, triazolam, lorazepam and diazepam.
It is so easy and convenient to manage the prescription drugs you use to treat your insomnia with NX Pharmacies.
What is insomnia ?
Insomnia refers to a range of sleep disorders that have an impact on daily life. It involves one or some of the following:
- difficulty falling asleep
- difficulty staying asleep
- waking too early and not being able to get back to sleep
People with insomnia wake up feeling unrested and they may doze when they need to be awake, as well as experiencing other symptoms like headaches and anxiety.
There is no specific number of hours of sleep that defines insomnia. People have different sleep needs. Many people find that they need less sleep as they get older.
Poor sleep and lack of rest has a negative impact on wellbeing. The Public Health Agency of Canada says that 12.3% of adults who don’t get enough sleep report having poor mental health, while just 5.8% adults who do get enough sleep report poor mental health.
NX Pharmacies can fill your prescription for insomnia meds and send prescribed sleeping pills straight to your home.
What causes insomnia ?
- jet lag (particularly travel from west to east)
- an unsuitable sleeping space, for example one that is too noisy, bright or cold)
- medications
- recreational drugs
- nicotine, alcohol and caffeine
- pain
- an inactive lifestyle
- stress
- grief
- pregnancy
Insomnia may be a symptom of another disorder, such as depression or anxiety, restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea.
Another thing that makes insomnia worse is worrying about insomnia.
What are the symptoms of insomnia ?
The symptoms of insomnia are difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and waking too early in the morning.
As a result of lack of sleep, you may feel tired during the day and find yourself dozing. You may also feel anxious, irritable and unable to focus. Some people get headaches from lack of sleep. People with some long-term conditions may find their illness flares up if they don’t get enough sleep.
What to do if you think you have insomnia
Try the lifestyle tips outlined in the treatment section. But if lifestyle changes have not worked and your insomnia has been going on for months, see your doctor. They can give advice about lifestyle changes and check out any underlying conditions that might be causing insomnia.
You can buy over-the-counter remedies for sleeplessness. Talk to your pharmacist and doctor about these. You can use them for one to two weeks.
See a doctor about your insomnia if you have experienced it several times a week for three months.
How does a doctor diagnose insomnia ?
The doctor will talk with you about your sleep and tiredness. An insomnia diagnosis typically features one or some of the following sleep problems happening at least three times a week and interfering with your waking life:
- difficulty falling asleep
- difficulty staying asleep
- waking too early and not being able to get back to sleep
The doctor will ask you to keep a sleep diary. They may also ask about any meds you’re taking, including herbs and recreational drugs, as well as your use of tobacco, caffeine and alcohol.
When investigating insomnia your doctor will check you over to see if you have depression or anxiety, or any other underlying condition that has insomnia as a symptom.
They might refer you to a sleep clinic which can run an overnight polysomnography test on you. You’ll sleep overnight at the clinic, wired up to measure different stages of sleep.
How will a doctor treat my insomnia ?
Your doctor will investigate possible causes of your insomnia by asking you about your general health and lifestyle. They may ask you to keep a sleep diary, which will help to identify possible causes of your insomnia.
They will treat any conditions that might be causing insomnia, for example arthritis, allergies, depression or back pain. But sometimes insomnia needs separate treatment from these disorders.
Then your doctor will give advice on sleep hygiene and some lifestyle changes for you to try.
Your doctor will try sleep medication if your insomnia is very bad or if other treatments have not worked.
Lifestyle changes to treat insomnia
Sometimes improving the way you go to bed can relieve insomnia – this is known as sleep hygiene. Here are some pointers to improve sleep hygiene.
Exercise during the day, not at bedtime. An active lifestyle will help you sleep, but exercising within four hours of your bedtime might make it harder for you to fall asleep.
Make your sleeping space comfortable, dark and quiet. Think about blackout curtains, an eye mask or ear plugs, and check that your mattress and bedding are right for you. The ideal sleeping room temperature is on the cool side – about 18 °C.
Manage your exposure to light to relieve insomnia. Getting some natural light early in the day can help insomnia; and keeping bright lights – including screens on phones, devices and TVs – out of the bedroom may be helpful for some people who have insomnia.
Avoid stimulants before bed. Tobacco use, tea and coffee can keep you awake. Alcohol can help you to fall asleep, but it results in shorter, lighter sleep, which can make insomnia worse. Try not to use them in the six hours before you go to bed.
Get a good sleep routine. Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day will help you develop healthy sleep patterns. Start your sleep routine about an hour before you want to go to sleep. Use a series of activities to prepare yourself for sleep, for example, cleaning your teeth, listening to calming music and reading a book.
Don’t nap. If you have a bad night, don’t nap to catch up. Keep to your regular sleeping hours.
Relax for an hour before bed. Read before bed, or take a bath. Avoid using bright screens.
Eat earlier in the day to prevent insomnia. Eating a large meal late at night can make it harder to fall asleep. The last meal of your day should not be fatty or spicy as these types of food can keep you awake.
Practice relaxation to prevent insomnia. Stress and anxiety can lead to insomnia so practising relaxation techniques can be helpful.
Are my meds causing my insomnia?
Some medications for other conditions can cause insomnia. Talk to your doctor or a pharmacist about the meds you are taking. Ask if insomnia is a possible side-effect. Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to adjust your prescription or your dose so it is easier for you to fall and stay asleep. If you think your meds are making it hard for you to sleep, ask for a medicines review.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia
According to Sleep On It Canada, one of the best treatments for insomnia is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi). It has a 70-80% success rate within a few weeks. It focuses on the psychological and behavioural factors that contribute to chronic insomnia. You can get CBTi courses online, but many people do better with direct guidance from a therapist.
Treating insomnia with medications
Doctors prescribe insomnia medications if lifestyle changes have not helped. Sleeping pills are usually for short-term use.
Your doctor may prescribe immediate relief insomnia meds to help you fall asleep. Other types of sleeping pill are intended to help you fall asleep again if you wake in the night. Some insomnia meds come in an extended release form, which have a first layer that dissolves fast to help you fall asleep, and then a middle layer that dissolves slowly to help you stay asleep. Your doctor will decide which format of sedative or hypnotic is best for you.
Most sleeping pills are taken ‘as needed’ and only when you are ready to go to bed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for clear instructions about when you should take your sleeping meds.
There are several medications commonly used to treat insomnia. These include benzodiazepines such as temazepam and hypnotics such as zopiclone.
Benzodiazepines
Examples of benzodiazepines prescribed for insomnia are temazepam, triazolam, lorazepam and diazepam. Some people find that they become dependent on benzodiazepines, and have to go through withdrawal when they stop taking them. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about withdrawing from benzodiazepines.
Other meds that treat insomnia
Some other meds that are used to treat insomnia include hypnotics such as zopiclone and zolpidem.
Sleep medication and tolerance
Many people find that sleep meds get less effective over time. This is known as tolerance. Doctors tend not to prescribe sleep medication for long periods to avoid tolerance.
Can I drive or ride a bike if I take sleeping pills?
You should not drive, cycle or operate heavy machinery until the effects of your sleeping pills have worn off. Some sleeping meds can impair your reactions, affect your eyesight, or make you feel confused. This can make it unsafe to do safety-critical tasks that require concentration. Ask your doctor how long your sleeping meds will affect you.
Will my sleeping pills cause memory loss?
Some types of sleeping pill are linked to memory loss. People have taken their meds and then engaged in activities such as phone calls that they later can’t remember. If this happens to you, tell your doctor, as it means the medication is not suitable.
Can I drink alcohol with my sleep meds?
Avoid drinking alcohol if you are taking sleeping pills. Alcohol is a sedative, and it can amplify the effects of a sleeping pill. Some people who combine alcohol with sleeping pills find that the amplified sedation affects their breathing.
Will recreational drugs interact with my sleeping pills?
It is likely that recreational and street drugs will interact with sleeping pills. The combination of cannabis and sleeping pills, or opiates with sleeping pills could depress your breathing, or make it very hard for you to wake up.
How do I get medications for insomnia ?
There are some insomnia meds that are available over the counter. Ask your pharmacist about these. But most sleeping pills are only available on prescription. To get temazepam, triazolam and zopliclone, you will have to consult your doctor. They will prescribe any sleeping meds that you need. You can then take the prescription to a pharmacy, such as NX Pharmacies, and they will fill it.
In Canada you can depend on NX Pharmacies for your insomnia meds. We serve all areas of Canada and can fill your prescription of insomnia medication. We can help with renewals and refills. Our discretion is assured, and you can depend on us for authentic Health Canada-approved medications.
Even if you’ve been successfully managing your insomnia for years, you can still benefit from the support of a doctor or pharmacist.
If something changes with your insomnia , talk to your GP. And if your meds stop working, or you start to get uncomfortable side-effects, ask for a medicines review. Your pharmacist may also be able to advise on managing side-effects of your insomnia meds.
- Where can I learn more about insomnia?
- Do I need a valid prescription to order insomnia meds?
- Why do my sleeping pills look different?
- How do I manage insomnia caused by jet lag?
- Where can I buy authentic Canadian insomnia medications?
- What is the best price online for insomnia medications?
- How do I set up a new prescription with NX Pharmacies for my sleeping pills?
- How can I refill my prescription for insomnia medication with NX Pharmacies?
- What happens when my doctor changes my prescription for insomnia?
- How will you ship my insomnia meds?
Where can I learn more about insomnia?
The Canadian public health campaign Sleep On It has resources and information to help you manage your insomnia, including sleep diary templates and online programs to help shift workers and parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Do I need a valid prescription to order insomnia meds?
There are some insomnia remedies available over the counter at pharmacies. But many medications used to treat insomnia are only available by prescription. You will need to consult a doctor about your insomnia and if appropriate they will write a prescription that you get filled at a pharmacy, such as NX Pharmacies.
Why do my sleeping pills look different?
Different pharmaceutical companies sell the same sleeping pills in different formats – for example, a different type of packaging, or a different colour of tablet. But the generic name of the drug will always appear somewhere on the packaging, even if the brand-name is different, and this should match the generic name on your prescription.
The different versions of the same drug are stringently tested to ensure they are bioequivalent, so you should be getting the same dose each time even if your pills or their packaging looks different.
If you have any questions about your insomnia meds, please get in touch with us and we will do our best to help.
How do I manage insomnia caused by jet lag?
Jet lag is where a long flight disturbs your normal sleep pattern leading to insomnia and exhaustion. Some people find jet lag causes anxiety, poor concentration, dizziness and indigestion.
Jet lag improves in a few days as you adjust to the new time zone. If your trip is very short (just two or three days) you may find it helpful to stick to your home routine, rather than trying to adjust to your destination’s hours.
You may be able to reduce the effects of jet lag by resting up before you travel, and by moving your sleeping and waking times closer to those of your destination. During your flight, stay hydrated – but avoid tea, coffee and alcohol. Sleep if it’s night at your destination, using earplugs and a mask if you need to. At your destination, move your sleep schedule immediately, using an alarm if you need to. Get some natural light during the day, as this will help your body adjust.
Where can I buy authentic Canadian insomnia medications?
To be sure you are treating your insomnia with genuine, non-counterfeit medications, get a prescription for sleeping pills from your GP and then fill it at a licensed pharmacy, such as NX Pharmacies. For more advice on avoiding counterfeit drugs, see The Government of Canada’s information about counterfeit prescription drugs.